The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today announced Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West by-election. The seat fell vacant following the untimely demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi, whose contributions to the constituency and the party will always be remembered.

Sanjeev Arora, a well-known social worker and entrepreneur, is currently a Member of Rajya Sabha from Punjab. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the people of Ludhiana West, his hometown.

AAP Punjab President Shri Aman Arora stated, "Sanjeev Arora is a dedicated leader with a proven track record of serving the people of Ludhiana. He embodies the values of AAP and is committed to carrying forward the vision of late MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi for Ludhiana West."

National Periodontist Day was celebrated in collaboration with the Dentistry Club by the Department of Periodontics at Desh Bhagat Dental College & Hospital, an integral part of Desh Bhagat University. The day marked the foundation of the Indian Society of Periodontology (ISP), which aims to promote and enhance knowledge and science of Periodontology in India. This year’s celebration was extra special, as ISP is commemorating its 50th Anniversary, the Golden Jubilee Year of its establishment.The one-day celebration evolved into a full week of events, featuring various activities and competitions for both patients and students. These included awareness lectures, dental camps, a Rangoli competition, a face painting competition, a Happy Smile contest, and a Reel making contest. Students and staff members actively participated throughout the week, contributing to the success of the celebration.The inaugural ceremony took place at the Department of Periodontics, where the esteemed Chancellor, Dr. Zora Singh, and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Tajinder Kaur, inaugurated the event by releasing golden-colored balloons into the sky, symbolizing the Golden Jubilee celebration of ISP. The dignitaries were formally welcomed in the Department of Periodontics, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony. Chancellor Dr. Zora Singh and Pro-Chancellor Dr. Tajinder Kaur distributed gifts and certificates to the competition winners, congratulating them on their achievements and sharing inspiring words about the significance of Periodontist Day. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Vikram Bali, Principal of Desh Bhagat Dental College. The celebration provided a wonderful platform to raise awareness about Periodontology and the vital role of periodontists in maintaining oral health.

In a significant decision, the Punjab Government has appointed chairpersons and trustees for Improvement Trusts in 20 districts, including Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Fazilka, Moga, and Pathankot. Rajwinder Kaur Thiara has been entrusted with the chairpersonship of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust. Along with Thiara, Dr. Jasbir, Harcharan Singh Sandhu, and Atma Prakash Bablu have been appointed as trustees of the Improvement Trust.

On this appointment, Rajwinder Kaur Thiara expressed her gratitude to party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. She said that she would perform the responsibilities assigned to her by the party with utmost diligence. She added that every worker in the Aam Aadmi Party is treated equally and respected, and every worker gets the reward for their hard work. She said that she had been inspired by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann’s message to take everyone along and move forward, and she would follow that inspiration.

In Ludhiana, Tarsem Bhinder has been appointed as the chairperson of the Improvement Trust. Megh Chand Shermajra has been appointed as the chairperson in Patiala, with Gulzar Patialvi, Sunny Patiala, and Veerpal Chahal appointed as trustees.

In Hoshiarpur, Gurwinder Singh Pabla has been appointed as chairperson, with Satwant Singh and Balwinder Singh Soni as trustees.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to give further impetus to the industrial development of the state to make Punjab a frontrunner state in industrial development.

A delegation of industrialists and traders called on the Chief Minister today at his official residence.

During the interaction the industrialists and traders hailed Bhagwant Singh Mann for taking several key initiatives to boost industrial development in the state. They said that the industrial development in the state has seen a rapid surge during the current regime adding that the state government is extending fulsome support and cooperation to them. However, they bemoaned that Punjab being a landlocked state, the blocking of traffic at Shambhu border due to farmers agitation has adversely affected the operation of business adding they sought the kind intervention of the Chief Minister for opening of traffic from this route so that business can be run smoothly.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hailed the Punjab Government's landmark decision to reject the Modi Government's proposed agricultural marketing reform draft in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. This decision makes Punjab the first state in India to reject this anti-farmer draft, protecting the interests of farmers and stakeholders in the state's agricultural sector.

AAP senior spokesperson Neel Garg congratulated Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his government for taking a stand in favour of Punjab's farmers. "This is a historic day. The Modi Government's draft was a direct attack on the rights of Punjab and its farmers. The Mann Government has shown unparalleled commitment to safeguarding the interests of the state's farming community," said Neel Garg.

Garg recalled that when the draft was initially sent by the central government, Punjab’s Agriculture Minister consulted all stakeholders, including farmer unions, labourers, commission agents (arhtiyas), and other agricultural representatives. During these discussions, it became evident that the proposal was against Punjab's interests and would harm farmers in the long run.

He highlighted the negative impacts the draft could have had: farmers would face difficulties selling their crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Punjab's mandi (market) system would be destroyed, the income of commission agents severely impacted, and road maintenance under the Rural Development Fund (RDF), covering approximately 65,000 kilometers of Punjab's roads, would suffer due to reduced funding.

Led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab assembly on Tuesday unanimously rejected the anti-farmers draft of National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.

Winding up the debate on the resolution moved by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian to reject the draft, the Chief Minister said that the state government has already opposed this draft tooth and nail through a written reply which was sent to the Union government. He said that this draft was out rightly rejected by the state government as it is totally against the interests of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that though the Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasts a lot about the initiatives taken by his government for food growers but by heart he and his government are inimical to farmers especially from Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that this is why the MSP for the farmers has not been announced by the Prime Minister, who had promised it to the farmers. He said that the Union government is adopting step motherly treatment with the state largely because the farmers of Punjab had spearheaded a campaign against draconian farm laws after which the Union government had to bow. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the hatred against Punjab is largely because the centre had to take back this law, which was an unprecedented action in the last more than 10 years of Modi rule.

In order to give impetus to the education sector in the state and provide job opportunities to the youth, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will soon give regular appointment letters to 3381 Elementary Teachers in the state.

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his official residence.

During a meeting to review the education department here today, the Chief Minister said that it is matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the recruitment process of 3381 ETT teachers has been completed. He said that this recruitment process has been completed in a batch of two including 951 and 2430 teachers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these teachers will be shortly given the appointment letters.

The Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of the state, any government has given a record number of 50,892 jobs to the youth in 35 months of coming into power. He said that out of this more than 11000 jobs have been given only in the Education department, which is the main focus of the state government. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him that all the jobs have been given completely on the basis of merit, without any corruption or nepotism.

In a major blow to trans-border smuggling networks, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police has arrested four drug smugglers and recovered 5.06 kg heroin from their possession in two separate cases, Punjab's Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Friday.

Those arrested have been identified as Gurjant Singh, alias Kalu, of Bachiwind village in Amritsar, Jagjit Singh of Rania village in Amritsar, Sahil Kumar, alias Sahil, of Ghariyala village in Tarn Taran and Rinku of Basti Dune Wali in Guru Har Sahai in Ferozepur.

DGP Yadav said that the arrested individuals were in contact with Pakistan-based drug smugglers, who were using drones to smuggle narcotics across the border to further supply in different areas of Amritsar.

Two separate first information reports (FIRs) have been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act at Police Stations Cantonment and Sadar in Amritsar, he said.

The DGP said that more arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days.